Levana is

Levana is a sedative hypnotic drug.

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Indications Levana is

It is used to eliminate sleep disorders of various origins in adults.

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Release form

The release is carried out in tablets, in the amount of 10 pieces inside a blister pack. The box contains 2 such packages (tablets in a dose of 0.5 mg) or 1 plate (tablets in a portion of 1 and 2 mg).

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Pharmacodynamics

The drug is a partial selective agonist of the GABA complex of A-endings. It belongs to the benzodiazepine category. It has a powerful hypnotic and anxiolytic effect, as well as a moderate muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant effect. It potentiates the properties of neuroleptics, narcotics, and also hypnotic drugs, as well as ethanol.

Among the features of the hypnotic effect of Levan is the ability to extend not only the segment of the slow-wave stage of sleep, but also the paradoxical one. At the same time, the number of its phases does not change. Due to this, the hypnotic effect of the drug acquires a noticeable physiological aspect.

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Pharmacokinetics

The drug is quickly absorbed once inside the gastrointestinal tract. The bioavailability level is approximately 80%, and the half-life is about 10-14 hours (the drug is classified as a drug with an average duration of therapeutic effect).

Excretion occurs via the biliary and renal pathways in the form of an active metabolic product: the 3-hydroxy derivative.

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Dosing and administration

The medication is taken orally, swallowing the tablet whole without chewing. It is taken once a day - 0.5-1 hour before bedtime.

The size of a single dose is 0.5-2 mg (a more precise dose is selected individually, starting with the minimum permissible dose of 0.5 mg and increasing it until the desired medicinal effect is achieved). No more than 2 mg of the drug is allowed per day, taken at one time.

Elderly people, as well as weakened people and those who have organic brain damage, problems with liver/kidney function, lung failure and pulmonary diseases of a chronic obstructive nature, need to take a single dose of the drug equal to 0.5-1 mg.

The duration of the course is selected by the attending physician, who takes into account the patient's condition and the course of the pathology. The therapeutic course for eliminating abnormal insomnia is 3-5 days, and for eliminating transient insomnia, 14-30 days are required. The treatment course may not exceed 30 days.

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Use Levana is during pregnancy

It is prohibited to prescribe Levana to nursing mothers and pregnant women.

Contraindications

Main contraindications:

• the presence of intolerance to medicinal components;
• severe respiratory failure of a chronic nature;
• presence of apnea;
• severe liver failure;
• cerebellar and spinocerebellar ataxia;
• acute intoxication with sleeping pills, psychotropic or analgesic drugs (neuroleptics, as well as antidepressants and lithium), as well as alcoholic beverages;
• severe myasthenia;
• acute attacks of glaucoma (in its narrow-angle form).

Side effects Levana is

When using the drug in the recommended therapeutic doses, no pronounced negative symptoms were observed. However, it is necessary to take into account the following side effects that occur when using sedative and hypnotic medications: muscle relaxation with hypersedation, as well as mild disorders of psychomotor skills and cognitive activity, increased IOP values, and signs of allergy.

In the morning, during the first few days of using the drug, a feeling of drowsiness may be noted, which often disappears after 2-3 days of therapy. The degree of severity, as well as the frequency of development of negative symptoms depend on the size of the portion of the drug.

If the patient experiences severe negative effects, it is necessary to reduce the dosage or discontinue the use of the drug.

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Overdose

Intoxication may cause a feeling of lethargy and drowsiness, mild ataxia, nausea with dizziness and signs of allergy.

To eliminate the disorders, it is necessary to stop using the drug and perform gastric lavage. If necessary, medications affecting the cardiovascular system, as well as CNS stimulants and flumazenil (in hospital) are prescribed. The hemodialysis procedure will be ineffective. Symptomatic measures are also carried out.

Interactions with other drugs

When using the medicine, it is forbidden to drink alcoholic beverages, because this can lead to suppression of respiratory processes and psychomotor retardation.

It is prohibited to combine the medication with phenothiazine neuroleptics, due to the fact that this increases the suppressive effect on respiratory function.

It is necessary to take into account that cimetidine can increase the level of benzodiazepines (except for oxazepam and lorazepam) in the blood by 50%, slowing down the metabolic processes and clearance of these substances.

Caffeine in large doses (also found in beverages) can reduce the medicinal effect of the medication.

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Storage conditions

Levana should be kept in a place out of reach of children. Temperature – within 25°C.

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Shelf life

Levana is can be used for the next 3 years from the date of release of the therapeutic agent.

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Application for children

The medicine is contraindicated for use in children.

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Analogues

Analogues of the drug are Fulsed, Radedorm and Estazolam.

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Reviews

Levana receives quite good reviews regarding its hypnotic effect. Most patients write about the presence of a good effect from taking the drug, although there are also reviews that indicate that in small doses the drug does not have the necessary effect. In general, most clients note the absence of side effects and good effectiveness of the drug.

It should also be added that the drug can be addictive, due to which small doses will cease to have an effect, so taking it for a long time is not recommended.